THE ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES PART FOUR Chapter One The trail up the mountain is hindered by the constant change of direction from the brutal chilling winds of a Nebraska January. The horses that are carrying Lou and Jane are situated in the middle of members of the James Gang that are forging their horses further up into the mountains. When a few men from Jesse's gang had kidnapped her and Jane they didn't stop to allow the women to bundle up for the inclement weather that came upon them from out of nowhere. Lucky for both of them that Jesse is a smallish man and he furnished her and Jane with riding clothes that are suitable for miserable snowy weather. As Lou tries her best to stay on her horse she wonders how the horses are managing to stay on the trail that is covered in what she estimates to be about ten inches of heavy snow. Lou's only guess is that Jesse's horses are used to this trail. Perhaps these mountains are where Jesse and his gang have been hiding out since the day Jesse made his surprise visit to Rock Creek. Lou tries to glance back at Jane who is right behind her on the trail, but the wind and the blizzard like gusts of snow that fly into her face are making her visibility poor at best. She is worried about Jane with her being pregnant; worried that she may become too drowsy from the bitter coldness and the flying sleet that has made a heavy crust layer on their clothes and tumble off her horse. She feels as if she has to protect Jane, but how can she manage that feat when she can barely keep her own eyes from going shut. Jane makes eye contact with Lou when she sees the young woman just ahead of her glance back to check on her. Perhaps it was a grave idea to tell Lou about her being pregnant. Now with being held captive by the James Gang, Lou will do nothing but worry about her and her unborn baby. Jane is worried that Lou will become so worried about her that she won't pay attention to the dangers on the trail. As the horses make a sharp turn on the trail the howling wind blows mists of cold snow into her face. Thank goodness her captors had the sense to grab the knitted scarf that was lying on a chair in her bedroom to tie her up with. Who would have thought that kidnappers could be that intelligent, but now the scarf is keeping some of the brutal wind and flying snow away from her neck and face. Still the brutal weather is chilling Jane to the bone. Her fingers are numb and she's sure if she were to get off her horse and stand, she would surely fall to the ground from the numbness in her legs and feet. Lou glances upward toward the sky hoping to see that the sky is starting to turn dark meaning that Jesse will soon search for a sheltered area to camp for the night, but her eyes are met with the large crowns of evergreen trees with each branch bending downwards with heavy burdens of snow and ice. She looks back down at the ground in front of her. The horses just ahead of her seem to be slowing down, perhaps they are nearing a former camp area that the gang has used before, or perhaps it is just the weather that is slowing them down to an almost dead stop. Lou's eyes begin to get weary and tried. The men ahead of her on horses are blurry almost looking like sacks of potatoes wiggling uncontrollably as they sit on top the animals. Lou catches her body as she almost slides from her horse! Jane watches Lou as she sees how difficult it has been for Lou to keep from falling to the frozen ground. To keep from falling asleep Jane glances around at the magnificent trees that occupy the vast landscape of the mountain range that has undoubtedly in Jane's mind been traveled on by many outlaws wishing to conceal their whereabouts from the lawmen that hunt them down. There are many dried up leaves from tall pin oak trees twirling down around her like boundless discolored snowflakes softly falling to the frozen ground. Jane watches intently as the gusting winds burn the eyes of the men causing them to temporarily lose their vision, and the relentless ragged edges of the falling dried up leaves stabbing the delicate eyes of the horses impeding their vision. All of these distractions making it impossible for the group to continue their travel upward into the mountain range at a quick pace that Jesse would prefer. Jane wonders when Jesse will call it a day and allow all of them to rest for the night. Jane glances upward toward the sky and takes notice to the dark heavy cloud formation confirming that the relentless snowstorm is going to continue through the night across the frontier. With little protection from the impeding weather other then the crowns of the enormous evergreens that expand across the mountain range, Jane can hear Jesse call out to the group to set up camp amongst a large circle of massive evergreens. Jane can only hope that the shelter from the trees will block out the cold wind of the night. As the horses all enter the circle of evergreens, Jane is amazed at the beauty of the evergreen hideout. The evergreens are massively touching one another from limb to limb with piles of snow anchored heavily on every branch. Once they have entered the interior circle of evergreens there are massive trees everywhere making a canopy above that keeps bad weather from entering onto the ground of the hideout. There are several premade campsites with mountain stone fire pits already built. The area is certainly large enough to conceal a gang of wanted outlaws. From the interior Jane can't see the outside world, and so it is very possible that a posse of lawmen looking for Jesse's gang could easily ride right past his evergreen shelter. Once off their horses, Lou and Jane are accompanied by two of Jesse's gang members to a large tree close to the fire where the two women can keep warm, but where Jesse is capable of keeping a close eye on both his captives. Both women watch as the cook crew begins to prepare dinner with the rabbits and squirrels that the outlaws had shot earlier in the day. "If both of you promise not to try and escape, I will allow your hands to be free of twine and any other binding that I might find to tie you up with," Jesse stated as he kneeled down to become at more eye level with Lou and Jane. "Of course, there is really no place to go should you think about escaping, and even if you did escape, without my protection the wilderness would kill you within a day." "If our only choice is being held captive by you or the merciless wilderness, I would rather take the brutality of the weather then to travel with your loathsome gang," Jane spoke her voice filled with bitterness. Jesse reaches behind Jane's head and grabs a handful of her long chestnut hair. He brings her face close to his as he lifts her body up off the ground. "I now understand why Charlene wanted you out of the way. You have more spunk then what Charlene was capable of handling," Jesse spoke as he releases Jane's hair while slamming her shivering body up against the tree. Shock has replaced the feeling of bitter numbness on Lou's face. She stares blindly into Jesse's eyes wondering if this cold-hearted man is telling them the truth. She thinks that Jesse isn't capable of telling the truth, that his life has been one lie after another, but Charlene had been acting quite suspiciously while living at the ranch. She reaches over to comfort Jane who is in a great deal of pain from Jesse's merciless hurling of her body against the hardness of the tree bark. "If you move one inch from these spots your hands will be bound behind your back," Jesse said calmly but with the authority that he has achieved over the years from being a notorious outlaw. He stares at Lou and Jane for a moment longer before walking away from the two women. Lou swipes away the dripping blood from Jane's lips. "We have to be careful. He is more ruthless then what I had anticipated." "I'm not afraid of him," Jane said as she continues to dab at the blood that escapes from her cut lips. "You are pregnant. You have to protect your baby's life," Lou stated insisting with the tone of her voice that Jane must obey Jesse. Suddenly Jane thinks about the baby that she is carrying. Lou is right she can't allow anything bad to happen to this baby, to her and Buck's baby. "What do you suppose Jesse meant by Charlene wanting me out of the way?" Lou doesn't want to bother Jane with her suspicions about Charlene due to her condition and also because of their own situation of being lost in the wilderness with only the James Gang as their comfort. Lou also knows that Jane is not stupid, and that she is aware of the type of person that Charlene is. "She loves Buck. Maybe Charlene doesn't even really love Buck, but she certainly wants him all to herself. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we were to discover that she has been working and plotting with Jesse all along." "What? Do you think that she helped plan our kidnapping to get me out of the way so that she could have Buck without my possible interference in her life with him?" Jane asked horrified that a human being would be capable of manipulating another person's life like that. "I'm saying that Charlene doesn't want you around because she knows that Buck loves you and that he isn't anywhere near ready to love someone else, and that there is a good chance that he may never love another woman as much as he loves you," Lou stated watching for a shocked reaction from Jane not only about Charlene, but also concerning the undying love that Buck has for her. As Lou tears a small piece of the hem from her shirt and dabs at her cut lip that refuses to stop bleeding, Jane notices the inquisitive look in Lou's eyes. If Charlene and Cody have plenty of secrets which she truly believes that they do, their secrets are safe for now, but her secrets and lies are no longer safe. She knows that over their delicious dinner of rabbit and squirrel stew that Lou is going to ask her every question that she can think of pertaining to her life since she arrived in Rock Creek. She must face one truth, and that being that she can no longer keep her secrets from Lou. "Cody truly loves you, or at the very least he has been manipulated into holding onto those feelings," Lou spoke firmly as she finally gets Jane's cut lip to stop bleeding. "Manipulated by whom?" Jane asked not really being able to comprehend that someone could be so devious. Lou is shocked that Jane can't answer her own question, but perhaps the bitter coldness and the fact that she is very pregnant might have her worn out physically as well as mentally. "It bothers me that Cody would lie to his family, but my guess is that Charlene is manipulating Cody. Charlene claims to be in love with Buck, and she has very much implied that she would like to be Mrs. Cross. Charlene also is aware of Cody's feelings for you." "My guess is that both Cody and Charlene are working for Jesse," Jane spoke pulling her arms tightly around her waist to keep the warm in and the cold out. "I'm having a hard time believing that Cody is knowingly taking orders from Jesse. That would mean that Cody knew that Jesse was going to shoot and try to kill Buck," Lou said wishing that she wouldn't have opened her mind to the possibility that Cody could be working with Jesse to destroy their family. "You heard what Jesse said, that Charlene wanted me out of the way. What about a couple of months ago when Cody accused Buck of murder and arrested him. Cody is an army officer. He knows what the implications could have been if Buck would have been tried and found guilty of those murders," Jane stated as she starts to believe that the man who vowed to take care of her and her baby could be trying to destroy the man she truly loves. "Jane you were going to marry Cody. You surely would have noticed if he were spending lengthy amounts of time away from the ranch to conduct his scheming with Charlene and Jesse," Lou stated quizzically. Jane is hesitant at first with Lou to reveal all her secrets, but the time has come when she can no longer keep pretending that she is in love with Cody. The future of her unborn baby is far more important than the lies and secrets she has tried so desperately to protect. "I really don't spend much time with Cody. Our situation is solely out of convenience on my part," Jane spoke softly as she waits for Lou's response knowing that at any moment she will be hurtling many questions at her. "I know that you don't love Cody with the same intensity that you love Buck so that is one question that I don't even have to ask," Lou stated firmly. "If I may ask, how is it that you have come to the conclusion that I don't love Cody with the same passion that I loved Buck? You've been questioning me about my feelings for Cody and Buck for months now and I have denied all of your beliefs." "I'm a woman and I've watched you carefully. You're forgetting that I have feelings for two very different men. My true love and soul mate is Kid, but I have had these feelings of pure lust for Jimmy for a very long time." "I don't have feelings of pure lust for Cody. As a matter of fact I can barely stand it when Cody touches me." "That is because your love for Buck runs very deep and your passion is aimed solely at Buck, but for some reason you have allowed Cody to become a part of your life. You were going to marry him. I don't understand why you would end your relationship with Buck your true soul mate and allow yourself to become pregnant to Cody," Lou stated trying in her own mind to figure out why she allowed herself to spend a night with Jimmy knowing that it would dissolve her marriage to Kid. "At least I'm not the only one with secrets," Jane stated as she glances away from Lou to see that one of Jesse's men are bringing her and Lou their dinner. "Enjoy the stew ladies," said one of the men as he hands both Lou and Jane a steaming bowl of stew, and then walks away from them to retrieve his own supper. Jane glances down at her bowl of rabbit stew with a disgusted expression on her face. "Bunny stew isn't exactly what I'm craving, but I guess starving my baby isn't a logical mother's way of thinking," Jane said smiling grimly at her bowl of stew. Lou blows on a hearty spoonful of her stew to cool it down before tasting what she believes will be a delicious supper as she watches Jane's expressions for answers. "I may have allowed myself to be swept away with romanticism with another man other than my husband, but I don't pretend to love Jimmy," Lou stated assuredly. "So, you don't love Jimmy?" Jane questioned wondering what Lou's true feelings are for Jimmy and for Kid. Lou waits to swallow her mouthful of stew before answering Jane's question. Perhaps if she warms up to Jane and reveals all her secrets then Jane will feel comfortable enough with her to share the secrets that she has kept bottled up since the very day that Buck was shot by Jesse. "I care deeply for Jimmy. He is a part of our family. You have to understand that when me, Kid, Jimmy, Buck, Ike and Cody were thrown together under the bunkhouse roof we became a very close-knit family of sorts. We accompanied each other many times when we had to go on a dangerous mail run, and we looked out for one another when there was trouble in town. So yes Jane, I care about Jimmy, but I don't love him the way a woman loves the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with." "Where did this pure lust for Jimmy come from?" Jane asked surprised that she actually likes rabbit stew and is quickly finishing up her bowl. Lou watches Jane scrap up the last morsel of stew from her bowl with her spoon. She wonders if Jane's appetite is already at the stage where she wants to devour everything in sight. She can only be about one month pregnant, but Jane consumed the rabbit stew quite swiftly. "You sure devoured that rabbit stew at a full gallop for a woman that was sure she wouldn't even like rabbit stew," Lou smiled apprehensively wondering if Jane is still hungry. Jane looks a bit guilty for seeming like a woman who hadn't eaten in days. "You know what it's like, eating for two I mean. You were telling me about this lust you have for Jimmy, and also what exactly are Jimmy's feelings for you?" Lou smiles warmly at Jane suddenly realizing that Jane is avoiding the truth of her own secrets as long as she continues to ask her questions about her life. "I truly believe that Jimmy has feelings of love for me, but he was falling in love with Hannah and so perhaps I was just an outlet for Hannah's announced departure from Rock Creek and Jimmy's life." "I don't think you were just an outlet. I've noticed how protective Jimmy is of you. He may or may not be in love with Hannah, but he has feelings of more than a sisterly love for you. When we get free of Jesse James, you and Jimmy will have to deal with your feelings before you can work on your marriage," Jane spoke wearily knowing that she has the same dilemma facing her when she returns home. "Are we speaking about me or you now?" Lou asked believing that Jane has the same situation to contend with upon returning to Rock Creek. "Our situations are quite different," Jane smiled grimly. "How are our situations different? If you ask me we both have two men in our lives that we have intimate feelings for. I may be married, but both of us can only have one man in our life, unless of course we want to be called unsuitable names by the citizens of Rock Creek," Lou stated flatly. "Our situations are different because where you have feelings for Jimmy, I don't have feelings for Cody," Jane sighed knowing that Lou's questions are forthcoming. Lou is shocked to finally hear Jane admit that she doesn't even love Cody. "Have you ever loved Cody?" Lou asked understanding that if Jane never loved Cody then she allowed herself to become pregnant to a man that she doesn't want to spend the rest of her life with. "I care about Cody as a friend, but I never have felt feelings of being in love with Cody," Jane stated somberly. "I don't know how you can be so calm with what has happened to your marriage. I mean the not knowing if you and Kid will be able to work things out, because my insides are a wreck knowing that I have destroyed the love and life that I could have had with Buck." "Make me understand why you destroyed that love?" "We all do foolish things Lou, and make bad decisions," Jane stated as her gesture confirms that Jane is talking about both her and Lou recently having made a complete mess of their lives. "What I did with my marriage was a foolish thing, but what you did runs much deeper than foolish," Lou said with a look of confusion. "You already know why I did what I did. The problem was that when you confronted me with the truth, I couldn't admit it. I couldn't deal with my fears and move on. I let my fears consume me like a bad nightmare until I destroyed Buck's love for me." "This was all about losing Buck? The fear of losing Buck the same way that you had lost your father to an outlaw," Lou stated disheartened by Jane's confession. "I destroyed my relationship with Buck and then I ran right into Cody's open arms." "But there were many times when Buck would have opened his heart to you again, but you refused to allow it to happen," Lou stated quizzically. "Do you remember the night that Buck kidnapped me?" Before Lou can utter that she remembers Jane refreshes her memory. "Of course you remember, because it was your idea that Buck kidnap me to ruin my intimate night with Cody." "Why are bringing that night up now?" Lou questioned feeling that Jane is somehow angry with her. "I'm not upset with you Lou. That night was the best and worst night of my life." How could that night be both?"Lou asked amazed that Jane is confiding in her with her deepest secrets. "Because I spent that night in the arms of the man that my heart truly belongs to, but in the morning when Buck and I had returned to the ranch, Cody's temper reminded me of how an outlaw behaves." "Cody is not an outlaw Jane," Lou remarked wearily. "I know that Cody is not an outlaw, but I have seen him scheming with Charlene on more than one occasion. I feel as if Cody is not being totally honest about what he has been doing. Lou, he arrested Buck for murders that Cody knew that Buck didn't commit. I don't trust Cody, and I was afraid that he would hurt Buck," Jane mumbled softly so that Jesse would not overhear what she is discussing with Lou. "You should have talked to Buck about your fears. He would have understood." "I couldn't talk to Buck. Jesse had already shot Buck once, and I couldn't take the chance that he would shoot Buck again." "So you believe that Cody is working for Jesse?" "What do you think?" Jane asked confused by her own thoughts. "I would find it difficult to believe that Cody had willingly known that Jesse planned on shooting Buck and that he did nothing to stop it from happening. I can believe that once Cody fell in love with you that he would do deceitful things to Buck to keep the two of you apart." "Many times I tried to get the truth from Cody, but his idea of spending time with me was to get me into his bed. I really had no desire to sleep with Cody. Perhaps I'm wrong about Cody working with Jesse, but he's being dishonest about many things that involve Buck." "Even though you have no desire for Cody, you still allowed yourself to become pregnant with his baby," Lou stated somberly. The time has come for Jane to tell Lou the truth about her baby. "My baby doesn't belong to Cody. Cody and I have never been intimate. Lou, I'm two months pregnant. My baby belongs to Buck." Lou is shocked, but a relieved smile highlights her face. Chapter Two Even though Cody had promised that he would stay out of Buck's face, the next morning after discovering that Jane and Lou had been kidnapped Cody was outside the barn at the ranch hovering over Kid and Buck as they packed their gear to ride out in search of Jane and Lou. The day before Cody had prevented Kid and Buck from leaving with his accusations that Buck had kidnapped Jane. Before anything was settled between Buck and Cody it had become dark making it impossible to start tracking the gang that had actually kidnapped Lou and Jane. "The two of you are wasting time. You could have easily left last night," Cody hollered bringing Teaspoon out of his house. Kid stops in mid-stride to address Cody before Buck losses his temper and flies into Cody with his fist! Kid gets right into Cody's face to speak to him. "We could have left last night, but you kept insisting on beating the hell out of Buck!" Kid exclaimed loudly as he walks away from Cody and back into the barn to retrieve his bedroll. "Don't try to blame your reluctant departure on me. The both of you could have simply walked away from me like you normally do," Cody hollered even louder. Teaspoon reaches Cody's side as Buck stops and takes aim at Cody's face with his fist. Kid thinks about allowing Buck to punch Cody, but thinks twice about it as he tightly holds onto Buck's arm. "Fighting with one another is not going to solve the situation," Teaspoon spoke quietly not wanting to alarm the rest of the sleeping family on the ranch. Just as Buck and Cody have calmed down, their eyes all turn onto Jack Morgan who is riding onto the ranch. Teaspoon is apprehensive about Jack showing up at the ranch ever since all Teaspoon's secrets have become knowledge to both he and Jack. Although Jack's appearance in Rock Creek was to bring those very secrets into the light, Teaspoon has to worry that Jack will tell Buck the truth about his parentage. Teaspoon walks away from Cody to greet Jack. "What brings you out here at this time of morning Jack?" Teaspoon asked weary that Jack has a hidden agenda for his family. Jack gets down from his horse and stands in front of Teaspoon. "Don't worry Teaspoon. I told you that telling Buck the truth is not my job. That is something that his father is responsible for. I actually came out because Jimmy had told me last night that Buck and Kid are riding out this morning in search of Jane and Lou and their kidnappers. We all know that Jesse's gang is behind the kidnappings. I intend on going along with Buck and Kid," Jack stated too enthusiastically for Teaspoon's liking. "I'm not sure I want you going along with Buck and Kid. The last time you were involved with tracking down Jesse, Buck was shot," Teaspoon remarked in a worried tone. "I promise that I won't be as eager to hunt down and kill Jesse," Jack exclaimed as Jimmy approaches Teaspoon and Jack. "Why not, Jesse certainly has caused this family plenty of grief. I say it's time we rid the west of Jesse James once and for all," Jimmy spoke his voice filled with anger. "Are you going along Jimmy?" Jack asked anxious to embark on the journey of the demise of Jesse James and his ruthless gang. Kid looks over from packing his horse to hear what Jimmy's response will be. It is not likely that Jimmy will be going since he and Jimmy can't see eye to eye at the moment, but Kid is still worried that Jimmy might think about going. Jimmy sees the worried expression on Kid's face. "With Buck doing the tracking, Teaspoon needs me here to keep law and order in Rock Creek," Jimmy stated quietly. Jack senses by the tense atmosphere between family members that something else is going on that he is not aware of, but he decides that it is family business and probably a topic that no one wishes to disguise at the moment. "Well then I guess I'll talk to you when I get back," Jack stated warmly as he and Jimmy shake hands. The two have become friends mainly because they are alike in a lot of ways and both of them want Jesse James dead! All heads turn when Rachel comes walking out of the house with saddle bags of food packed for Kid and Buck. She hands Kid his and kisses him lightly on the cheek. "You take care of yourself, and please watch after Buck," Rachel spoke worried that Buck could get hurt again. Rachel doesn't trust Jesse and for some reason Buck appears to be at the top of Jesse's people to shoot list. "Don't worry Rachel, I plan on everyone coming home safely," Kid spoke letting Jack know that he's welcome to ride along, but he doesn't plan on killing Jesse in cold blood. Kid figures on letting the law handle Jesse James. Rachel makes her way over to Buck who is just finishing up tying down his bedroll. Rachel hands Buck the saddle bags and Buck swings them over Warrior and ties them tightly to the rest of his gear. Buck kisses Rachel lightly on the cheek. "Thank-you," Buck spoke sounding tired. Rachel is hesitant at first, and she gets a rather curious look from Buck. "There is something that you need to know before you leave," Rachel spoke as Cody interrupts her. "Buck doesn't need to know anything Rachel," Cody spoke his temper heating up again. Rachel faces Cody with a look of disapproval on her face. "That is where you are wrong Cody. Everyone here needs to hear what I have to say before this family decides to track down Jesse and his gang. Jesse is dangerous and he doesn't care about any of us. Jane and Lou's lives are in danger the longer they are held captive by Jesse," Rachel spoke as she turns her attention back to Buck. "What is it Rachel?" Buck asked as he is worried that she has bad news concerning Jane and Lou that Cody obviously doesn't want anyone to know about. There is no good way to tell Buck news that is sure to hurt him, but he needs to know so that when he finds Jane he can better secure her safety. "Jane is pregnant," Rachel stated loud enough for everyone to hear with sounds of disappointment coming from everyone except Cody. At first Buck can't think or say anything, the news hurts too much for him to speak. But he soon realizes that everyone is waiting for some sort of a response including Cody and Teaspoon has made his way over to Buck. "I understand. I'll take good care of Jane once I find her," Buck stated as he and Teaspoon hug. "Are you sure you're alright to track Jesse?" Teaspoon asked worried that the sad news of Jane's pregnancy could distract Buck from the job he must do. "I lost Jane a long time ago Teaspoon. I'll be fine," Buck spoke quietly as he raises himself up into his saddle. "Let's ride out." As Teaspoon, Rachel, Jimmy and Cody watch Buck, Kid and Jack ride off the ranch Cody secretly hopes that Buck isn't the one that finds Jane. It makes him feel quite uneasy that Buck and Jane's love could be renewed by a common goal of trying to stay alive in the brutal winds of January. Chapter Three Cody turns on Rachel. "There was really no reason to share the news of Jane's pregnancy with everyone Rachel," Cody spoke his tone filled with anger. Jimmy walks over to Cody and gets right in his face before Teaspoon can even make an attempt to defend Rachel. "Why is that Cody? Do you have more secrets, secrets concerning Jane's pregnancy that you would like to share with the rest of us?" Jimmy asked his voice condemning Cody for being deceitful toward his own family. Cody looks at Jimmy, Teaspoon and Rachel as they wait for him to answer Jimmy's question. How can it be that his family is so in tune to his lies? Perhaps because he has told so many lies that his family just expects every word that comes out of his mouth to be the start of yet another lie. This lie isn't even totally a lie that he made up completely on his own. Jane agreed to keep the true identity of her baby's father a secret from the rest of the family to avoid problems with Buck when he and Jane decide to leave Rock Creek permanently. "Cody, you are taking entirely too long to come up with yet another lie. I don't even want to hear what you have to say because whatever explanation you give it is sure to not be the truth," Jimmy stated resentfully as he starts to walk away from Cody. "I'm not answering your question Jimmy because there is nothing to say about Jane's pregnancy. She's pregnant and that's all there is to it," Cody stated as he leaves his family and walks toward the bunkhouse. Teaspoon walks up to Jimmy as he watches Cody walk away wondering if the young blonde army man is telling his family the entire story. Jimmy's questioning has Teaspoon doubting that Cody is being entirely truthful about the situation or if indeed there is more to Jane's pregnancy. "You plan on keeping a close watch on Cody?" Teaspoon asked as Cody slams the door of the bunkhouse once he has gone inside. "I am," Jimmy stated with a matter of fact tone. ***** Frank James hands Jane and Lou each a plate of pork and oatmeal for breakfast as the swirling winds can be head sweeping across the limbs of the evergreen trees. Both Lou and Jane are thankful that the bitter chill of the January winds can't reach them through the protection of the dense interlocking of evergreen branches from tree to tree. Lou watches intensely as Jane eats her breakfast. She has more questions for Jane concerning her pregnancy, but she doesn't want to upset Jane with her suspicions. "Is your breakfast good?" Lou asked as she eats her own breakfast. "It's fine. Do you think Jesse will decide to travel today with the storm surrounding us?" Jane asked worried that she will have to ride a horse through the massive snowfall that has accumulated onto the ground and through the bitter chill of the winds that are whistling all around their evergreen hideout. "Jesse isn't worried about either one of us surviving. It wouldn't surprise me if he makes the decision to leave this spot," Lou stated worried that the fresh snowfall will make it extremely difficult for Buck to track them. "You look worried. Do you want to share with me what it is that you're worried about?" Jane asked as she sits her plate down onto the ground. Lou finishes up her breakfast and also sits her plate on the cold, hard ground. "I'm worried that the new snowfall may cause problems for Buck." "Why would the new snowfall cause problems for Buck?" Jane asked not connecting that Buck will be the one doing the tracking of Jesse's gang again. "Buck will be doing the tracking when Teaspoon sends out a posse to search for us," Lou stated quietly so that she doesn't alarm Jesse. "No!" Jane exclaimed loudly. Lou puts her hand on Jane's arm to calm her down and assure her that Buck will be ok as Jesse glances over at the two women, but both are completely quiet after Jane's sudden outburst. Both Lou and Jane don't speak for a few moments until Jesse's attention is diverted to a man riding into their camp. Lou recognizes the man immediately as Simon Davenport. "I wonder why Simon has joined us out here in the middle of know where?" Lou asked mostly to calm Jane down after her outburst. "You don't really care what Simon Davenport is doing. Why is Buck the only person that Teaspoon uses for tracking?" Jane asked disheartened. "Because Buck is good at tracking plain and simple," Lou replied honestly as she studies Jane intently wondering if Jane will answer her next question honestly or if Lou will have to guess at the right answer. "Did your plans with Cody include telling Buck about the baby?" Jane isn't even a little bit caught off guard by Lou's question. Jane knew Lou would get around to asking that very question sooner or later. Her only hopes were that perhaps it would be later rather than sooner. "I can see with the look in your eyes that you are expecting me to answer that question without a completely honest reply," Jane spoke wearily that because of the lies that she has told that no one believes what she says as being the truth. "I would appreciate the truth and I would also like to hear the entire plot. I mean I already know that you and Cody were planning on being married and that the two of you were going to leave Rock Creek for good, so I can only assume?" "Lou, I'll tell you the truth. You don't have to assume anything," Jane spoke as her attention is taken away from Lou for a moment when she hears louder than normal voices coming from Simon and Jesse. The two men quiet down when they notice that the entire camp is focusing on them. "I wouldn't worry too much about what is being said between Jesse and Simon. At the moment there is absolutely nothing we can do about their scheming," Lou said calmly. "Do you remember the day the new foul was born?" Jane asked feeling slightly fatigued from the weather and all her lies. "I remember. Was that the day you started to suspect that you might be pregnant?" "Actually I knew that I was pregnant around Thanksgiving Day, but I of course hadn't told Buck and I wasn't sure how to tell him. By that time I started to feel that perhaps Buck didn't love me anymore and I didn't want him back in my life just because I was going to have his baby," Jane started sincerely. "Buck loves you and he always will. There is nothing that you could do that would make Buck stop loving you. I'm not saying that he wasn't hurt or angry over the lies and deceit that has been going on between the two of you, but I'm sure that Buck loves you," Lou spoke quietly making sure that Jesse doesn't overhear their conversation. "I guess I just have much insecurity where Buck is concerned. The day the new foul was born I blurted it out to Cody that I was pregnant. At first Cody said the same thing that you did, that Buck would be thrilled with the news that he was going to be a father, but then suddenly probably because of my doubts that Buck still loved me, Cody managed to persuade me to tell everyone that the baby was really his and that we would move away so that Buck would never know that he is really the father of my baby," Jane spoke in a whisper like voice hoping that her admittance to not tell Buck about his child would not upset Lou too much. For a long moment Lou can only look at Jane and wonder why she would ever agree to such a plan. Jane has to know that if Buck were to ever find out about her plan with Cody that he could possibly lose the love he feels for her. "I know I just finished telling you that there is absolutely nothing you could ever do to make Buck stop loving you, but perhaps your plan with Cody would definitely do just that," Lou spoke stunned that Jane would do something like this to Buck. "I really need to ask you, do you love Buck?" "I'm surprised you need to ask, after all weren't you the one that kept insisting that I didn't love Cody and that I really loved Buck." "I didn't expect you to be in on Cody's plots to destroy you and Buck's relationship," Lou remarked angrily. "I'm not asking you to understand why I agreed to go along with Cody's plan, but what I do want from you is a promise that Buck will never find out what I have told you. You are right about one thing, and that is that if Buck knew that I was planning on taking his child from him, he wouldn't be able to love me." "Are you saying that you want another chance with Buck?" Lou asked trying to not show that she is happy that Jane wants a relationship with Buck. "The moment we get back to the ranch I'm going to tell Buck that the baby is his. I'm hoping that he will forgive me and that the two of us can start over." "If you can promise me that you won't do anything more to hurt Buck then I can agree to keep your secret about your plan with Cody," Lou stated quietly as she and Jane's attention is drawn back to a louder than normal conversation between Jesse and Simon. Jesse notices that Lou and Jane are listening intently to his and Simon's every word. He gestures to Simon that the two of them need to take their conversation away from listening ears. Jesse followed by Simon walk out from the shelter of the thick mass of evergreens. Once outside Jesse realizes just how much it has snowed since their arrival at the hideout yesterday. Early this morning Teaspoon sent a small posse out to search for you," Simon said in a mumbling manner. "I'm sure one of them was Buck Cross," Jesse spoke with a wicked smile. "The other two are Kid and that Jack Morgan bounty hunter," Simon replied. "Teaspoon sure is persistent about catching the James Gang," Jesse spoke his voice filled with sarcasm. "You can't stay here too much longer. Even with the new snow that has covered your tracks, Buck will still be able to track you to this spot, and it won't take him long to find you," Simon claimed almost demanding that Jesse pack everyone up and head out. "I have a plan Simon. I've known since the moment I kidnapped Jane and Lou that Buck and Kid would be right behind me by only a day or two days at the most." "Buck was fooled by your last plan. I'm not so sure he'll walk right into another one of your traps," Simon spoke with some authority. "I don't plan on trapping Buck. It will be getting dark soon we'll wait until tomorrow to put my next plan into action." Chapter Four The night had fallen quickly onto the snow covered mountains. The only light that allows Buck, Kid and Jack to travel by is coming from the moonlight that is reflecting onto the new fallen snow. The swift gusts of wind that swoops beneath the neckline of the men's jackets is causing chills and numbness throughout their bodies and is also the cause of deep drifting of snow making travel extremely difficult for man and his horse. Buck is worried that this brutal weather will be too much for Jane and Lou to survive in. He knows how the bitter coldness and wetness of the snow is making his own mind and body feel. He can only imagine what is going through Jane and Lou's mind unless Jesse has found shelter from the inclement weather. Jack Morgan who had decided on his own to do some scouting up ahead for shelter is making his way back to Buck's side. "There's a cave up ahead that we could spend the night in," Jack spoke loud enough for Buck to hear him over the gusting winds. "You checked it out?" Buck asked thinking that perhaps Jesse and his gang could be hiding out in the cave. "I checked it out. There isn't even a single bear hibernating inside the cave that I can see," Jack replied smiling grimly as if trying to joke with Buck who he believes is way too serious. "You better hope not if we plan on staying there for the night," Buck replied moving ahead to inform Kid that there is shelter just up ahead. Jack moves ahead of both Buck and Kid to guide their way to the cave. The snow is still heavily falling down all around them, making visibility even more difficult now that nightfall is upon them. Kid can feel that his horse is getting tired trudging through the heavy, deep snow. "The horses need to rest soon. They aren't going to be able to travel much further," Kid spoke loudly so that even Jack Morgan could hear him. Jack points up ahead at the opening of the cave that is concealed by plenty of evergreen trees. "Over there," Jack hollers wholeheartedly as he feels the numbness taking control of his limbs. The three men make their horses give one last push to make it to the cave. Once near the cave all three men dismount their horse and guide the horses to the large opening of the cave. The opening of the cave is large enough for the horses to maintain shelter for the night. "The horses can stay right inside the opening for the night. It should be warm enough for them here once we build a fire," Kid spoke with a shivering voice. Buck takes the reins of all three horses and guides them to a spot that is out of the way from the gusting wind that enters the inside of the cave at the frontal opening. "We need to find some wood to build a fire," Buck stated while brushing the snow off his jacket. "That's going to be about an impossible feat to accomplish," Jack mumbled not wishing to upset Buck. "It won't be an impossible feat. Why don't you get the coffee pot and the pot ready for heating up the stew that Rachel sent along with us while Kid and I search for some loose branches for a fire," Buck spoke with authority. "Sure thing boss," Jack mumbled underneath his breath as Kid and Buck leave the shelter of the cave. Kid had taken notice to the hostility between Buck and Jack. "You don't care for him much do you?" Kid asked as he picks up a large branch that is sticking half why out of the snow. "I don't mind him, but I just want to make it clear to him that I'm not falling for any of his stupid decisions this time around," Buck stated as he and Kid gather an armful of branches and twigs that will produce a very warm fire. Buck and Kid continue to gather wood in silence both men thinking about the true love of their life and wondering if they are safe. ***** Teaspoon had spent most of the day with thoughts of Buck and Kid as well as Jane and Lou being out in the worst blizzard that Rock Creek has experienced in a decade. The winds had created hazardous drifting to the point that no one person would be capable of getting to the ranch or getting into Rock Creek. He hoped that while he is stranded at the ranch that Rock Creek and its citizens are safe. More importantly he is silently praying that Buck and the rest of his family is brought back home safely to him. Rachel dressed in the warmest coat she could find in her home strolls out onto the porch of her home to stand next to her husband who at first doesn't even realize that she is near until she wraps her arm into his arm. Teaspoon loses his thoughts as he turns to look at Rachel. "I didn't even hear you come outside," Teaspoon spoke quietly. "I was watching you from the window. You've been in deep thought since coming out here about an hour ago. I didn't think you should stay out here in the bitter cold too much longer," Rachel replied as she draws her body closer to her husband for warmth. "Are you cold?" Teaspoon asked with a teasing smile as he kisses Rachel lightly. "How can you just stand out here and not be cold?" Rachel asked with a shiver in her voice. "I guess because my mind has been on other things. I haven't really thought about the cold since I came out here," Teaspoon spoke adamantly. What were you thinking about?" Rachel asked already knowing that Buck and the others are heavily in his thoughts. "I was thinking about Buck and how he is risking his life to save Jane, a woman that claims she no longer loves him. I was thinking that it should be Cody out there risking his life to rescue Jane. I understand Kid needing to find Lou, but Buck being out there doesn't even make sense to me," Teaspoon spoke his tone trailing toward a selfish notion that he doesn't want to lose Buck now more than ever before. "You know why Buck is out there and not Cody. First of all Buck can track and well Cody, the only thing he can track is food," Rachel spoke seriously as she hears Teaspoon give a chuckle at her descriptive words of Cody. "The other reason Buck is out there risking his life to find Jane is because he loves her and I know you really don't want to hear this, but I believe Buck will always love Jane. They are soul mates just like Kid and Lou and you and me." "She's pregnant with Cody's baby. There is no chance that Jane and Buck will ever get back together now," Teaspoon spoke sadly. "Don't count Buck and Jane out as a couple just yet. It wouldn't surprise me if this journey doesn't bring the two of them closer and make them both realize just how much they do love one another. Buck is capable of raising Cody's child. I really don't think that would be an issue between Jane and Buck," Rachel spoke with confidence that Buck and Jane still love each other. "The way Cody's been behaving I really doubt that he would allow Buck to raise his child," Teaspoon spoke disheartened that even if Jane and Buck were to get back together Cody would make their life together miserable. "Let's just take one step at a time. The first step being that we should go back into the warmth of our home with our two young sons," Rachel spoke weary from the weather. ***** Buck and Kid are sitting next to the warmth of the fire drinking a cup of coffee. They are both watching Jack as he gets up and heads over to his horse. "Where are you going?" Buck asked calmly. "I won't go too far, but I thought I would scout just ahead of us before I turn in for the night," Jack replied quietly not wanting a disagreement to ensue between him and Buck. "Don't you think you should let your horse rest," Kid stated watching for a reaction from Buck knowing that the Kiowa doesn't completely trust Jack. "I'm going on foot. I just wanted to grab my rifle just in case I happen to run into Jesse James or one of his notorious gang members," Jack replied as he walked out of the cave with no further explanation. "I guess he doesn't feel like hanging around the cave with us," Kid stated hoping to make a joke of the situation so Buck relaxes more where Jack is concerned. "If you're worried about me starting a fight with Jack over his inability to follow an order, I don't really care what Jack does, just as long as he doesn't pull either one of us into his schemes," Buck spoke as he pours himself another cup of hot coffee. "You're starting to sound bitter. I hope that all that you have been through with Jane doesn't cause you to look down on life," Kid spoke disheartened that Buck doesn't seem like the happy person he was before Jane came back into his life. "You don't exactly sound like the happily married man that you once were," Buck stated hoping to discuss Kid's situation with Lou rather than his situation with Jane. "The difference between the two of us is that I'm out here searching for my wife praying that Lou and I can work through this thing she has for Jimmy and work on repairing our marriage," Kid confessed his plans hoping that Buck will share his feelings about what he wants for him and Jane. "Do you think that is possible?" Buck asked grimly "It's possible as long as Lou is through with Jimmy. That is what I have to find out. The thing is Buck I don't want to lose Lou. I've been doing a lot of thinking while we were climbing this mountain. I don't want to be angry with Lou anymore. I don't want to lose my family," Kid stated pouring his heart out to Buck. "Can you forgive Lou for what happened between her and Jimmy without dredging up the past every time you and Lou have a disagreement?" Buck asked hoping that Kid can give him the answer he's searching for where he and Jane are concerned. He honestly isn't sure if he can forgive Jane. "I admit that I think about Lou and Jimmy being together more than I should, but some of that could be because Lou and I weren't really speaking when she was kidnapped. I wasn't over the pain that she had caused me," Kid spoke sadly. "So, what you're saying is that what Lou did doesn't hurt anymore?" Buck asked wondering why he can't seem to get over the hurt that Jane has caused him. "I'm saying that I'm willing to listen and find out exactly why Lou felt she had to turn to another man." "That other man being Jimmy one of our own family," Buck stated disheartened by the fact that Kid has not really answered his question on how he can stop feeling hurt over what Jane has done to him. Kid wonders for a moment why Buck seems despondent and then it hits him that Buck doesn't know how to start over with Jane and get rid of all the hurt he is feeling. "It will be difficult to understand how Lou could be with another man and especially with that man being Jimmy, but I only see two choices here Buck. I either fight for Lou and try to make our marriage work, or I lose her and my children." "That's where you and I have a different situation. You have a family that you don't want to lose. I don't have a family to lose. Jane is a woman that I fell in love with. She isn't my wife and we don't have any children." "What if Jane was your wife? Would that make you feel differently?" "I would fight to keep her especially if we had children. I would never allow my children to have to grow up with just one parent," Buck stated seriously which puts a weak smile on Kid's face. "I know how badly Jane has hurt you, but?." Kid, I don't really want to discuss what Jane has done," Buck spoke disheartened. "Buck, I think you need to talk to someone about all the pain you are feeling, otherwise the pain is never going to go away. You're keeping it bottled up inside only makes the distance between you and Jane greater," Kid spoke knowing that before now the pain he was feeling about Lou being intimate with Jimmy was damn near killing him inside. "I'm just grateful that Jane and I don't have any children, because if we did I would have to spend the rest of my life being with a woman that I no longer love." Kid is stunned to hear Buck say that he no longer loves Jane, but he also thinks that Buck is only trying to convince himself that he no longer loves her. Why else would he be searching for her in a blizzard? Chapter Five Teaspoon glanced up from staring blindly at Jesse's wanted poster with thoughts of both resentment that Jesse had come into his life and apathy, but he had to admit that a small part of him was feeling uneasy about Jack riding along side Buck and Kid in search of Jesse and his ruthless gang. He sat back in his chair at his office and took a deep breath hoping it would relieve the emotional anger that he was feeling inside. After every horrible thing that Jesse has recently done to his family could he possible still feel a parent/son attachment to Jesse? He rubs his tired eyes and gazes quickly toward the front window of his office out at the lightly falling snow. The town of Rock Creek this morning was still and quiet due to the blizzard like snowfall that had fallen onto the ground the past couple of days and nights. He glances back down at Jesse's wanted poster and silently thinks that it will be a long day until he hears the door to his office open. A swift cold flurry of air comes into the marshal's office with Jimmy trailing directly behind as he quickly shuts the door once he has entered the office. Teaspoon is stunned to see Jimmy at the office so early this morning rubbing his arms from the bitter cold and then blowing on his hands to warm them up. "I'm surprised that you made it in today. That snow out there is awfully deep," Teaspoon spoke hoping that for just one day he could have had the office all to himself to think heavily on all that has happened in his life over the past six months. "I thought I might get reprimanded if I didn't make it in this morning. I woke up early and went out to the barn. I discovered that your horse was gone so I figured you came here," Jimmy spoke happy to have something to do today if it only means keeping Teaspoon company at the office. "I really wasn't expecting you to make it in," Teaspoon replied with a weary tone in his voice as he reached back to hang Jesse's wanted poster back up on the bulletin board behind his desk staring intently one last time at the face of a man that has become an obsession in Teaspoon's life. The simple truth is that Jesse is hell bent on destroying his family and so to keep his family safe Jesse's life must end! Jimmy takes notice to the tired sound of Teaspoon's voice as he sits down at his desk. "You sound tired Teaspoon, is there something troubling you?" Jimmy asked thinking that Jesse is the problem, but by the sound of Teaspoon's voice it sounded like a problem even deeper than Jesse James. "I'm concerned mostly about Jack riding out with Buck and Kid to search for Jesse. Jack is trigger happy when it comes to outlaws. He wants to collect that bounty and it's a whole lot simpler to bring an outlaw in dead than alive," Teaspoon remarked melancholy thinking that Jimmy isn't going to understand his despair. "I'm sorry that I can't sympathize with what you are feeling and you know that Jesse and I were once very close, but I can't rationalize all that he has done to us," Jimmy replied hoping to get a response from Teaspoon still thinking that Teaspoon has a lot more than Jesse on his mind. "I hope that you don't think that I have forgiven Jesse for the brutal things that he has done to all of us," Teaspoon spoke in a questioning tone. "I don't think that at all. I just believe that out of all of us that you are having the most trouble being uninfluenced by the situation. I mean you loved Jesse like a son. I'm sure that it's not easy for you to dismiss those feelings," Jimmy replied committing himself to finding out what Teaspoon is feeling. Hardly a trait that Jimmy is accustomed to having and so he isn't quite sure how to listen to the things that Teaspoon isn't saying. "I did love Jesse like a son. I can't deny those feelings nor would I want to. Even though it has been a number of years ago, I can remember very clearly the day that he came into our lives as if it just happened yesterday, but I can also clearly remember the day that he ambushed all of us and shot Buck," Teaspoon replied as he thinks about Buck almost losing his life over something that Jesse did. "That is exactly the problem that I'm having. I can't even remember what Jesse was like years ago. For me it's hard to remember years ago and the boy he was. All I can concentrate on is the man that he has become. He's ruthless and he should have to pay for the robberies and murders that he has committed. I'm sorry that my tolerance for Jesse is very limited, but?" "I understand Jimmy. I could never forgive Jesse for what he did to my s? to Buck," Teaspoon spoke forgetting that his secret about Buck is still a secret and praying that Jimmy didn't catch on to his forgetting that. Jimmy eyes Teaspoon suspiciously wondering if he heard correctly the mistake that Teaspoon almost made. He isn't a very good listener and so perhaps it was just his ears playing tricks with him, but he decides to question Teaspoon about it anyway. "Is there anything else troubling you besides Jesse because I could have sworn you actually meant to call Buck your son," Jimmy spoke with a blunt questioning tone. "All you boys are like sons to me and I was just sitting here thinking that for me to keep this family safe Jesse's life has to end," Teaspoon replied hoping that he quickly covered up his mistake by diverting Jimmy's attention back onto Jesse. "Sorry Teaspoon, but I can't let you off the hook this time. I know you love all of us as if we were actually your sons, but it sounded to me like you meant to call Buck your son. Does this have anything to do with Jack and his real reason for coming to Rock Creek because don't think for one second that it has gone unnoticed by me that Jack and you have secrets," Jimmy spoke almost demanding that Teaspoon reveal his secrets. "Since when did Jimmy Hickok become so perceptive?" Teaspoon asked his voice sounding even more tired now that his slip up was definitely noticed by Jimmy. "That sounded like a compliment so even though I'm not exactly sure what you meant, I'll take it," Jimmy replied still wanting an explanation from Teaspoon concerning his secrets with Jack. "But I still can't let this be. I've noticed your lack of paying attention to details lately and that isn't like you. It's as if you have something heavily brewing on your mind. I didn't mean to stumble onto your secret, but now that I have you need to tell me what it is that brought Jack Morgan to Rock Creek because it just wasn't Jesse James!" "Jimmy, you need to let this be. This is not a situation that I want to surface," Teaspoon spoke adamantly, but with a very tired tone. Jimmy doesn't listen. He gets up from behind his desk and slowly walks over to a chair in front of Teaspoon's desk and sits down hard letting Teaspoon know that he isn't going anywhere until Teaspoon tells him exactly what he wants to know. "I can't let it be and neither should you," Jimmy stated compassionately. "Jimmy, you ever hear that old saying that some things are better left unsaid? Well this is one of those things and so I'm begging you to drop the subject," Teaspoon spoke trying to calm down his insides from becoming a nervous wreck. He simply cannot allow another person to know his secret concerning Buck. Teaspoon knows all too well what can happen when a secret is known by too many people. The end results are usually devastating. "So you are admitting it," Jimmy stated with a wide smile of approval. "I can believe that Buck is your son because he sometimes acts just like you. And I'm not saying that in a bad way. I mean Buck takes the law pretty seriously and at first I thought maybe it came from just his years of working alongside you as your deputy, but now I know it is because?" "Jimmy, do you ever shut that mouth of yours? I mean when you get on a roll, you just can't control your mouth," Teaspoon asked wishing to abruptly end this conversation. Jimmy ignores Teaspoon's comments concerning his big mouth. "The part that I don't fully understand is how. I mean Buck has said in the past that his father raped his mother. I find it hard to believe?." "That didn't happen!" Teaspoon hollered angry that Jimmy would think he could rape a woman. "I believe you, but I need an explanation and you might as well tell me because sooner or later you're going to have to tell Buck the truth. I'm guessing that you haven't told Buck the truth," Jimmy replied wanting to know exactly what is going on between Teaspoon and Buck. "Buck doesn't know," Teaspoon spoke wearily. "He must never know the truth." Once again Jimmy hears the tired tone in Teaspoon's voice, but he also hears the sadness that he can never tell Buck the truth about his parentage. "First of all before we discuss whether Buck should or shouldn't know do you mind telling me exactly how you came to find out this information. I mean I'm sure you haven't known since we rode for the Pony Express," Jimmy stated wanting to know all the details. Teaspoon is hesitate to reveal his secrets to Jimmy, but he already knows the biggest part of the secret anyway so the details are really nothing compared to the biggest secret of his entire life and that secret being that Buck is his son. "Jack?" "I figured Jack had a part in all of this," Jimmy stated with a grin almost proud that he knew that Jack delivered this news to Teaspoon. "Do you want me to tell you the story or should I just let you tell me how it all happened?" Teaspoon stated with anger in his tone that Jimmy easily figured out what has been making him so miserable for the past few weeks. "I understand how upset you might be over this news, but obviously keeping your secret has turned you into a bear," Jimmy spoke seriously trying to tell Teaspoon that keeping secrets only makes you edgy. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to jump down your throat about my problems, but you asked," Teaspoon replied waiting for Jimmy to gesture that he wants to hear Teaspoon's side of the story. "Jack has known for many years that the Indian woman that I spent some time with when Jack and I were trapping together was Buck's mother." "How does Jack know that?" Jimmy questioned thinking that Jack could have made up the story. Teaspoon takes a deep breath. "If you're thinking that Jack is not telling me the truth, the evidence that he delivered to me makes my being Buck's father a reality. "What evidence?" "After I moved on away from the Indian woman and Jack, Jack was taken by her tribe. He claims to me that they held him against his will for a few months and then he was able to get away from them when a group of men raided their village. Buck's mother was pregnant with Buck at the time," Teaspoon stated wearily. "I see and you believe Jack?" Jimmy asked quietly not wanting to upset Teaspoon. "I have no reason not to believe Jack. Think about it Jimmy, why would Jack come to Rock Creek to lie to me about something as important as my having a son that I didn't know I had?" Teaspoon spoke loudly with distress in his tone of voice obviously distraught about the situation and not wanting there to be any more complications with the truth concerning Buck and him. "What if Buck is really Jack's son and he's just trying to get rid of his own guilt for not staying with Buck's mother and raising his child with her," Jimmy stated trying to help Teaspoon see that Jack could be lying to him about Buck's parentage. "I hadn't thought about that, but the reason that I hadn't thought about that is because there is one thing about Jack Morgan that you don't understand Jimmy and that is that Jack Morgan has no guilt feelings about anything he has done in his entire life. Why do you think he became a bounty hunter? The man doesn't care about who gets in his way and who could end up getting hurt," Teaspoon spoke boldly realizing now more than ever that Buck is indeed his son. "You've made your point. Tell me more about this evidence," Jimmy questioned wanting to help Teaspoon. "First off, and this is going to make me sound real bad, but I didn't know the Indian woman's real name. She had lied to me about her name, but Jack informed me that her name was really Six Moons. That is Buck's mother's name. Then there's the no denying the time frame in which I was with the woman in comparison to Buck's date of birth. It matches perfectly to nine months later." Jimmy now is the one taking the deep breath. "Why was Buck lied to about his mother being raped by his father?" "I'm guessing and this is just a guess, but I truly believe that Red Bear made that story up to protect his mother's virtue with the rest of her people. If you remember Buck always said that the tribe treated him badly for being half white, but they never blamed his mother for delivering a half breed to their tribe," Teaspoon stated fatigued by the entire situation. "Ok, so the evidence makes Jack's side of the story believable, but I still question Jack's motive for suddenly having the urge to tell you the truth. I mean why did he wait twenty-four years to track you down and tell you the truth about Buck? I mean I'm sure that with Jack being a bounty hunter that he has known for quite some time your whereabouts and that he has probably passed through Rock Creek plenty of times without stopping to share his wonderful news," Jimmy stated truly believing that Jack has a hidden agenda in the matter. Jimmy's questions do make Teaspoon think about Jack's possible motives for waiting twenty some years to spill this secret, but he still can't comprehend the truth being that Jack is really Buck's father and that he simply wants to rid his own life of that responsibility. "If I allowed myself a moment to believe that Jack is really Buck's father could you tell me why Jack would lie to me and why now twenty-four years later?" Teaspoon questioned needing a good answer to his questions before doubting that Buck is his son. Jimmy hesitates for a few moments before even trying to answer Teaspoon's questions. He doubts Jack, but coming up with answers to Teaspoon's questions is a little difficult. Jimmy isn't quite sure how to read the way Jack Morgan thinks. "So what you're telling me is that Jack would have no feelings at all for Buck if Buck were really his son?" "What I'm saying is that Jack doesn't feel guilty about the things he does in his life. If Buck were really Jack's son why would he try to convince me that Buck is my son? Why wouldn't Jack just tell Buck that he is his father?" Why bring me into the mix at all?" Teaspoon questioned trying to find an answer to nullify the possibility that Jack is really Buck's father. "Perhaps Jack knew all these years that he was really Buck's father and perhaps he found out that Buck was still alive." "That much of the story we've already figured out Jimmy," Teaspoon spoke his voice showing a little hostility over the fact that Jimmy could be correct with his assumptions. "I'm merely thinking out loud Teaspoon. Jack obviously doesn't do well with responsibility or emotional attachments to people otherwise he wouldn't have spent his entire life tracking down outlaws," Jimmy stated with his mind trying to figure Jack out. "I'm with you so far." "What if Jack does feel slightly guilty about Buck never really having a father figure in his life, but what if Jack simply doesn't want that responsibility. What if Jack simply rids himself of any guilt feelings he may have about not being a father to Buck by passing the blame unto you and then giving you the responsibility of being Buck's father and having to explain to Buck why you weren't there for him when he was a child," Jimmy stated pleased that he could come up with any angle that Jack might be using to make Teaspoon Buck's father. Teaspoon thinks on everything that Jimmy has just brought into the light for a moment. "I really wish you wouldn't have brought all this into the picture," Teaspoon stated sadly. "Why is that?" Jimmy asked feeling innocent that he has now caused an even greater problem for Teaspoon. "Because Jimmy, I was fine with the knowledge that I'm Buck's father. I would rather be Buck's father then to think for a single moment that Buck's father could really be Jack. Now you've managed to open up a whole new can of worms," Teaspoon replied uneasy that Jimmy's theories about Jack could be correct. "Teaspoon, I understand your wanting to protect Buck from Jack by wanting to be his father and just letting it go at that, but do you really want to live a lie if Jack is really Buck's father?" Jimmy asked believing that Teaspoon would need and want to know the truth. Teaspoon is torn and it shows with the expression of confusion on his face. Even though the knowledge that he is Buck's father has brought him a great deal of emotional pain the last few weeks, the news has also brought him more happiness then he could even imagine that it would. He wants to be Buck's father and he doesn't want to have to think about Jack possibly making up the story just to provide Buck with a father that would be more suitable than Jack. "I suppose you think that I need to further question Jack about this situation." "I think I would before I tell Buck the truth," Jimmy stated quietly thinking that eventually Teaspoon will share his news with Buck. "I don't ever plan on sharing my news with Buck," Teaspoon stated as he gets up from his chair and walks over to the window to glance about the town just to make sure nothing of interest is going on. "Teaspoon, Buck needs to know the truth." Teaspoon watches intently the snow flurries flying in the sky only to hit the ground and become lost in the massive amount of snow that now lies on the main street of Rock Creek. "Buck must never know the truth," Teaspoon replied sadly as he walks back over to sit down in his chair with a weary expression on his face. "Why is that?" Jimmy asked angry at Teaspoon for not allowing Buck to know his father. "It would destroy Buck if he knew that I was his father and that I didn't care enough about him or his mother to stick around to raise him," Teaspoon chimed sadly with a whole lot of guilt in his voice. "You didn't know that Six Moons was pregnant," Jimmy stated being rational about the situation. "I didn't wait around long enough to find out either. I spent a few days with her and then left her with no thought at all about staying with her for awhile." "Buck isn't going to blame you for not staying." "I slept with his mother! Anytime a man sleeps with a woman there is the possibility of her getting pregnant. The point I'm trying to make here Jimmy is that maybe I didn't want to stay around long enough to find out if she had became pregnant with my child. Then I would have had to stay put and raise a child. Back then I really was no better than Jack Morgan. The only real difference between me and Jack is that with age I love responsibility and having a family, but with age Jack still can't stand the thought of being tied down," Teaspoon stated finally understanding why he must further question Jack about the detailed circumstances behind Six Moons pregnancy. "That is exactly what I've been trying to tell you. After you have another chat with Jack concerning Six Moons and her pregnancy then you and I will further our discussion on why you need to tell Buck the truth," Jimmy stated as their conversation starts to make him even weary. "What are your plans for the rest of today?" Teaspoon asked getting away from the discussion concerning his responsibilities and instead thinking that since Rock Creek is pretty quiet today Jimmy might want to see what Cody is up to today. "I'm thinking I might scout around and see if I can find Cody." "I was thinking the same thing," Teaspoon said with a slight chuckle letting Jimmy think that he is feeling good about their conversation. Jimmy gets up from the chair in front of Teaspoon's desk in a lazy manner and he heads over to the front door. "Just tell me you'll think hard about everything we talked about," Jimmy questioned as he opens the front door to the marshal's office, but looks back at Teaspoon one last time to see if he can see a sign that Teaspoon is going to at least think about telling Buck the truth. "I certainly have a lot to think about," Teaspoon stated as he glances back down at the paperwork on his desk. Jimmy takes that as his sign that Teaspoon would like to be left alone to ponder all that they talked about. He leaves the office. Once Jimmy is gone from the office and before Teaspoon allows himself a moment to think too much about his conversation with Jimmy the thought that he may not be Buck's father invades his mind and causes him to become hostile sending his paperwork all over the floor of his office with one angry motion of his arm! Jimmy steps out into the bitter cold and proceeds to walk down the wooden boardwalk of Rock Creek. He wonders where would be a good place to start searching for Cody on a wintery day like today. He had taken notice that when he left the barn earlier this morning that not only was Teaspoon's horse gone, but so was Cody's. As Jimmy walks down the boardwalk a little further he realizes that a nice hot cup of coffee sounds like a great idea before searching for Cody. He walks toward Calvin's Rock Creek Diner and glances into the front window before going inside. A pleasing grin invades onto Jimmy's face when inside the diner at a table toward the back sits Cody with Charlene. "Cody, you just insist on making my job real easy," Jimmy stated as he walks into the diner for a cup of hot coffee. Chapter Six Buck stands alone at the opening of the cave with a tin cup half full with hot coffee that he had allowed to become too cold for him to finish drinking. He tosses the few last remaining swallows of his coffee out onto the pure white snow. Buck glances up at the skies and discovers that the morning skies are still clouded over with the snow clouds that have filled the sky for the past several days. A light snowstorm is still causing a shower of snowflakes to fall from the sky. He takes a deep breath and allows his mind to think about Jane and how she must be doing out in the wilderness with being pregnant. Since the day he and Kid with Jack tagging along had left the ranch, he has wondered why Cody didn't insist on joining the search for Jane and Lou. If it was his baby that Jane was carrying, he would be out here searching for her, but yet Cody was more than willing to allow him and Kid to search for Jane. Cody hadn't made even the slightest offer to help find the women. He wants to believe more than ever that Lou could be right about Jane and Cody. That perhaps the only reason that Jane turned to Cody is because she couldn't bear to lose Buck through death. Buck has noticed the way that Cody and Jane act with one another when they are together. While Jane always placed her body close to his, when Cody and Jane are together it had always seemed like Jane was pulling away from Cody. Then again perhaps it is just wishful thinking on his part that Jane really doesn't love Cody with the same passion and intensity that she had loved him. "What are you thinking about?" Kid asked loudly scaring Buck out of his thoughts of Jane. Buck turns around to look at Kid with guilt written all over his face. He looks back at the skies and then at the ground before answering Kid. "I was thinking that we should get going," Buck stated as he walks back into the entrance of the cave to retrieve Warrior. "Sure you were," Kid stated with a grin. "What did you say?" Buck asked. "I think you're right. We need to get back on the trail as soon as possible," Kid stated as the two men get their horses and gear ready. "Is Jack awake?" Buck asked not really caring if Jack goes with them or not. "I'll check on him," Kid stated as he walks deeper into the cave to leave Buck alone with his thoughts. Once Kid leaves Buck allows his mind to revisit thoughts of Jane again and what he will say to her once he finds her. At this moment the hurt from finding out about her pregnancy to Cody is still fresh in his heart. He isn't even sure he will be able to talk to her for fear that his emotions will get the best of him. He has tried to convince himself that he doesn't love Jane anymore, but the truth is he can't even convince Kid and so how can he convince himself that he doesn't love her when he keeps feeling that all he wants to do when he finds her is to hold and kiss her. Buck shakes those thoughts from his mind when he feels the wind and sleet hit more strongly against his face. He looks up into the sky praying that he isn't too late. ***** Jesse tosses the remains of what is left in his coffee cup onto the pure white snow and gazes up into the storm like sky. He allows his mind to dwell on flashes of memories from his past. He remembers how he and Jimmy had been close. Jimmy had kind of taken him under his wing when he lectured him about guns not being the answer to all his problems in life. He thinks back about how he was never really close to Buck. How the two of them never really developed any kind of a relationship other than just acquaintances. Jesse shivers slightly from the cold sleet that flies into his face. Perhaps the reason why he and Jimmy had been so close was because they were a lot like. He and Buck really had nothing in common. He remembers how Buck was close to Teaspoon always helping out with the law. It stands to reason that Buck became Teaspoon's deputy. "What are you thinking about?" Simon stood behind Jesse scaring the younger man out of his thoughts. "I was thinking about the past if you really must know," Jesse stated unafraid to tell Simon the truth. "That past of yours will someday come back to haunt you," Simon remarked with knowing experience. "How is that?" Jesse asked with a smirk. "You care more for your past family then you are willing to admit. You may or may not care about Buck and Kid, but when you talk about Teaspoon and Jimmy you have respect for those two men. I'm guessing that you were closest to those two over the others," Simon replied adamantly. "Simon try not to make such a deal about how I feel about my past family. At this time in my life all of them are my enemies and I really don't care what happens to any of them. Why do you think I kidnapped Jane and Lou?" Jesse asked. "You promised Charlene that you would get Jane out of Buck's life," Simon replied. Jesse laughs at Simon's response before he can reply back to Simon's ridiculous answer. "I don't care about what Charlene wants and promises certainly mean nothing to me. I'm quite surprised that you didn't already know that about me. I kidnapped Jane and Lou so that I could lure Buck and Kid out here into the wilderness where I can finally kill both of them," Jesse replied with an evil grin. "That isn't exactly the way to get back into Teaspoon's good graces," Simon stated a bit angry that Jesse continuously risks being captured because of his vendetta against Teaspoon for not welcoming Jesse back into the family. "I'm no longer trying to please Teaspoon Hunter. He turned his back on me when I asked him to do me one simple favor," Jesse replied with hostility toward Teaspoon and his family from the past. Simon no longer wanting to upset Jesse decides it would be in everyone's best interest if he would change the subject. "Jesse, we need to get away from this camp. I'm sure that Buck and Kid will find this camp soon. We don't need to be here when they arrive." "I told you last night that I have a plan. Get the two women ready for us to leave shortly," Jesse ordered Simon with his authority as his leader. ***** Miles away from Jesse's evergreen hideout Buck, Kid and Jack are trying to make their way through the heavy snow fall further up into the mountains. They had traveled since before dawn, but they hadn't made it too far from the shelter of their cave. The mountain trail that Jesse's gang traveled on just two days ago has become extremely treacherous for horses to travel on. The snowfall mixed with the icy sleet mixture that has replaced the snow flurries has made the trail up the mountain more slippery than when Jesse had traveled it. Kid who has been right behind Buck makes his way slowly to be right next to Buck. "Do you think we have a chance of catching up to them with this trail being so dangerous? Do you think maybe we should go off the trail and try to climb the mountain?" Kid asked anxious to find Lou. Buck is slow to answer Kid at first. "We could try climbing the mountain. Perhaps the mountain being snow covered would give the horses the traction they need to move up the mountain at a faster pace. Still we can't push them too hard for fear of injury to their legs. This snow is heavy and deep," Buck replied in between a few coughs. "Are you alright?" Kid asked with concern noticing that Buck is coughing and that he looks a little flushed in the face as if he might have a fever. "I'm fine. My throat just feels a little sore, but it's nothing to be worried about," Buck spoke as he gestures with his hands to Jack that they are leaving the trail and that they are going to try climbing the mountain. Behind the two men Jack wonders about their plan, but he doesn't question their decision. He simply follows Kid and Buck off the mountain trail and into the wilderness of the mountain. ***** Jesse's men including Jane and Lou are on their horses outside the evergreen hideout. Lou and Jane are watching Jesse and Simon with much interest since the two men are standing close together and they have been doing a lot of whispering between themselves. The two women look at one another wondering what Jesse plans on doing next. Jesse pulls on Simon's coat sleeve to gesture to him to walk away from his gang members and Lou and Jane. He doesn't want any of them to hear the plan that he is now going to put into action. Some of his men find his next plan rather barbaric since it involves some of them staying behind to fight off the posse that is after them. "Make sure that you wait until Lou and Jane are sure that you are riding behind them and then being as quiet as you can double back to the hideout with five others. You will stay in the hideout until Buck and Kid arrive. That should give the rest of us time to distance ourselves from Buck and Kid," Jesse stated confident that his plan will succeed. "Then what?" Simon asked wondering what Jesse expects him and the men to do with Buck and Kid. "Contain them for as long as you can. If you have to just kill them," Jesse replied with no feelings of remorse for his cruel and heartless actions. Simon stands completely still in shock that Jesse is ordering him to kill both Buck and Kid. Jesse walks away from Simon and gets onto his horse. "Let's ride out," Jesse shouted so that all his men could hear him. Lou and Jane slowly get their horses into the line that is once again being formed by Jesse's men. The two women decide to ride alongside one another since the trail at this point is wide enough. "I know Jesse is up to something. What do you suppose it is?" Jane asked frightened that Buck's life could once again be in danger. "Jesse has to know that Teaspoon has sent out a posse to search for us," Lou replied not wanting to alarm Jane that Buck and Kid could be in danger. "He is such a ruthless snake," Jane spoke with a furious tone in her voice. "Don't say that too loud. Just try to remember what Jesse did to you the last time you let your mouth get away from you," Lou stated not wanting Jesse to get brutal with Jane again. "Like I told you before, I'm not afraid of him. The only reason that I'm willing to behave is to protect my baby," Jane stated fiercely. "We have to have a plan ready of our own just in case Buck and Kid find us. We have to be able to take charge of our own escape once Buck and Kid arrive to help secure our freedom from Jesse," Lou stated her mind working to think of a plan to get her and Jane away from Jesse. "Truthfully Lou, the only plan that I can think is that the two of us just have to be ready and alert if Buck and Kid should try to rescue us. It's not like we can try to escape on our own. Jesse is constantly having us watched," Jane replied hoping that Lou with her over active imagination doesn't come up with an impossible scheme that will upset Jesse. "I'll think on a plan, but I have to make sure that you and your baby are safe. That is our first priority," Lou stated as she grabs her stomach in obvious pain. Jane tries to grab onto Lou to offer her support. "Are you alright?" Jane asked with a concerned tone for Lou's health. Lou looks at Jane with concern over her sudden pains of what seem to be hunger. "I think I just need to eat or at the very least drink something," Lou spoke softly as she grabs her canteen and takes a small swallow of refreshing water. "Did that help you to feel better?" Jane asked quietly. Lou is silently wondering why she suddenly feels nauseated, but at least the cool water did help the feeling pass. "I feel a little better." Jesse rides back to where Jane and Lou are riding. "The two of you need to keep your mouths shut or I'll have to put gags in your mouths," Jesse stated with a wicked grin as he vacantly stares at both Jane and Lou for a moment and then rides back to the front when he takes notice that Simon and the five men that were riding in the back have disappeared out of Jane and Lou's sight. ***** The winds of January are whipping across the faces of Buck, Kid and Jack as each man is walking through the deep snow guiding their horses behind them. Their horses have their heads bowed down trying to avoid the pelting of wet snow, ice and rain that is smacking them in the head and face blinding their vision and making their eyes blink continuously. The three had been traveling for hours, but with the swift winds it had seemed like their horses were standing still most of the time until the men decided to try walking through the snow themselves. Even though they have covered more ground by doing so, their feet and pants are soaked from walking in the foot deep snow. Kid is a few feet away from Buck, but for more than half the afternoon he has constantly heard Buck coughing. If Buck becomes ill they will have no choice but to turn back and head home. He is terribly concerned about Buck's well-being, but he also dreads the thought that Buck may not be able to continue searching for the women much longer. Jack wonders about this journey. Perhaps it would have been better to wait until spring to embark on a manhunt for Jesse and his men. Of course by spring both Lou and Jane could very well be dead. Even if he were to suggest that they turn back and head home, he is sure that Buck and Kid would object to his idea. Kid gets closer to Buck. "Are you sure that you are alright?" "I'm sure," Buck replied as he gestures to Kid with his eyes to look up ahead of them. Kid looks ahead and sees a circle of evergreens, but he isn't sure if that is what Buck meant for him to notice. "The trees?" Kid questioned wondering what Buck is thinking. "It is a large thickening of evergreens. Just be alert as we get closer," Buck stated unsure if danger could be lurking near. As they get closer to the evergreen hideout Buck can see from a distance the many horse tracks that are around the area. He nudges Kid in the side. "We need to quickly distance ourselves from this grove of trees," Buck spoke as he gestures that they get back on the mountain trail below them. Jack and Kid follow Buck away from the grove of trees. The three men end up on the trail that they had started on which is about fifty feet on the mountain below the grove of evergreens. They stop moving forward when they reach the trail. "What's going on?" Jack asked in an impatient tone of voice. "I'm pretty sure that Jesse's men were holding up in that massive grove of evergreen trees. Their tracks are all over the place, but it also appears that they left," Buck stated wearily. "So why are we back on this trail instead of following their tracks," Jack stated with even more impatience than before. "Because it also appears that several men have come back and they are hiding out inside that grove waiting for us," Buck stated as he watches both Kid and Jack's faces turn from tired and worn out to an ashen white paleness from shock that they could have easily rode into another one of Jesse's ambushes! Chapter Seven From the mountain trail that is a distance of about fifty feet away from the grove of evergreens, Buck and Kid watch Jesse's hideout from a small campsite that they have set up. Jack decided to circle around to the back of the evergreen hideout on foot to see if he could determine how many of Jesse's men stayed behind in the hideout. "How do you think Jack is making out?" Kid asked worried that Jack will do something stupid that will get them all caught by Jesse's men. "Don't worry about Jack; he can take care of himself. According to Teaspoon, Jack has been a bounty hunter for a very long time. I'm sure he's been in dangerous situations just like this one with other outlaws," Buck stated as he puts a few more dead twigs on the small fire that he and Kid have started hoping that Jesse's men will see the fire and think that all three of them are sitting next to the fire trying to keep warm. Kid senses that Buck really isn't in the mood for talking. He has noticed that Buck has been more quiet than usual since Rachel's news of Jane's pregnancy took all of them by surprise. He doesn't want to stop talking for fear that Buck will never open up if he just decides to leave him alone. "Why do you think Jesse left men behind?" "I think Jesse wants his men to slow us down and if they can't do that without killing us then I believe Jesse gave them the order to kill us. If you're thinking we are going to find Lou and Jane in the hideout, I'm sorry to disappoint you," Buck replied not wanting to give Kid false hope that he will soon be reunited with Lou. "You don't think Lou and Jane are hiding up there with Jesse's men?" Kid asked in a sad tone, but already knowing what Buck's answer will be. He dislikes giving up on the hope that he will find Lou soon. "I believe Lou and Jane are with Jesse," Buck stated grimly as he stokes the fire with a larger branch than the twigs he is using to keep the fire burning. Kid glances up into the dark sky. He notices that the clouds are starting to darken again. He suspects that another brutal snowstorm is on the way. "Jesse's been planning this kidnapping for a long time," Kid stated sadly as he looks back at Buck. "Why do you think that?" Buck asked, but he's also thinking the same thing. "I'll give you one reason, Charlene," Kid stated disheartened that they had allowed that woman to stay on the ranch for as long as they had. "That woman has lied to us from the very moment that Jimmy brought her onto the ranch. I never really trusted Charlene, but the day that you told me that you caught her in the barn with Jesse confirmed to me that she had been up to know good with Jesse the entire time that she's been living on the ranch," Buck stated very weary over all that Charlene has done to his family. "Her fascination with you is her entire focal point for living," Kid stated confused wondering how a woman could allow herself to become so obsessed with desire for a man that is truly in love with another woman. "And I'm sorry that I'm the reason she became so evil, but the moment we get back to the ranch I'm personally packing Charlene's bags and escorting her back to her father's ranch," Buck stated slightly angry that all that Charlene has done to them is because she can't accept the fact that he wants nothing to do with her. "I'll help you," Kid stated with a meek grin. ***** Teaspoon and Rachel are sitting at the table after supper is over. Addison and Daniel had asked to be excused and had gone upstairs to play for awhile before their bedtime. Rachel pours Teaspoon another cup of coffee hoping that the intense smell of the freshly brewed coffee will pull Teaspoon out of his deep thoughts. "Do you want to talk about it?" Rachel asked as she waves a hand in front of her husband's face. Teaspoon comes out of his semi-conscious state and smiles warmly at Rachel. "Talk about what?" "Whatever it is that is troubling you and keeping your mind away from being here with me," Rachel stated boldly. "I'm just worried about Buck and Kid. Worried that Jesse has set another trap for them." "I'm sure that you don't need to worry. Buck isn't going to allow them to ride into another one of Jesse's traps as long as he can keep Jack from being so trigger happy," Rachel stated getting up from her chair and hugging Teaspoon from behind when Jimmy walks into their kitchen. Jimmy gives Rachel a light hug as she steps in front of him. "Hi Rachel," Jimmy spoke quietly as he hugs her back. "I'm going to go upstairs and get the boys ready for bed so the two of you can talk," Rachel spoke as she gestures to Jimmy to find out what has Teaspoon in such a despondent mood. Jimmy walks over to the chair that Rachel was just sitting on and he grabs himself a coffee cup from the sink and pours himself a cup of coffee. "I don't have to ask because I'm sure you are thinking about Buck." "And Kid. I'm real worried about what Jesse is capable of doing. He has no heart anymore and he doesn't care who ends up dead," Teaspoon spoke quietly not wanting for Rachel to overhear their conversation. "I wouldn't worry too much, Buck isn't going to let Jesse outsmart him again," Jimmy stated watching Teaspoon's face relax a bit. "Have you given any more thought to what we talked about a couple of days ago?" "Jimmy, I can't even think about how I should tell Buck that I'm his father if I'm not even sure that I should tell Buck that I'm his father," Teaspoon spoke his voice showing signs of stress when it comes to Buck's true parentage. "I don't want to upset you and you know how I feel so I'll leave it go at that for now. I found Cody and Charlene at Calvin's Diner after I left the office that morning," Jimmy stated hoping to grab Teaspoon's attention with his information. Teaspoon is very interested in what Jimmy has to say. "What were the two of them doing?" Teaspoon asked thoughts of catching Cody and Charlene scheming making his blood boil. "Just having breakfast and coffee, but the moment I walked up to their table and sat down the two of them instantly shut up. I'm telling you Teaspoon that I don't trust Charlene, but if I find out that Cody has had anything to do with Buck getting shot and Lou and Jane being kidnapped he'll wish that he never heard of Rock Creek," Jimmy stated boldly with disgust that Cody could be involved with Jesse's plans to get rid of his family. Teaspoon takes a drink of his cold coffee. "I don't think Cody has knowingly been working with Jesse, but I do think Charlene is involved. If anything I think Charlene has been putting Cody up to things that he normally wouldn't do, but I don't think Cody knows that those orders are coming from Jesse," Teaspoon spoke calmly about the fact that Charlene is living on this ranch, but she's working with Jesse. "So what do you want me to do about Charlene?" Jimmy asked quietly. "I think for now we should just let her stay at Buck's, but when Buck gets home we need to get her out of there. I'd like to keep a close eye on Charlene just a little longer to see if we can catch her working for Jesse," Teaspoon replied with his eyes watching Jimmy's reaction to his scheme. "I'll continue to keep a close watch on Cody and Charlene," Jimmy stated taking a long sip of his coffee. "Now is everything else alright with you? Have you been able to give any thought to how you're going to handle the Lou situation when she gets back home?" Teaspoon asked wondering if Jimmy plans on making problems for Kid and Lou if what they both want is to make their marriage work. He's hoping that Jimmy gives him the correct answer. He doesn't want to see the three of them hurting anymore over the mistakes that all three have made. "I do care about Lou, but if Lou wants to work out her marriage with Kid then I don't plan on standing in the way." "I hear a but in there somewhere," Teaspoon spoke calmly. "But if Lou and Kid don't work their marriage out then I plan on pursuing her in the way that a man would ask a woman if she would consider dating him," Jimmy spoke adamantly wanting Teaspoon to know that he thinks of Lou as more than just a sister. "If Lou chooses to work on her marriage to Kid, are you going to be able to accept that?" "I'll have to. I won't interfere with their marriage again," Jimmy stated sounding very sincere. "I may not be able to stay in Rock Creek if Lou chooses Kid over me and Kid may appreciate it if I move on," Jimmy stated sadly. "I would hate for you to go. I've gotten kind of used to you hanging around," Teaspoon spoke trying to add some humor to the situation. "I care about Kid even though it may not seem like I do. I wouldn't want to stay if my staying would make Kid uneasy everyday for the rest of our lives," Jimmy replied with a tone of regret in his voice for what has happened between him, Lou and Kid. "You know what is really funny?" "What's that?" Teaspoon asked lightly. "Buck was right all along. I was trying to give Buck all this great advice on women because I thought that I was such an expert and Buck was the one that was right. He pleaded with me to stay away from Lou and I didn't. He was right. I should have listened to him," Jimmy stated with a sincere smile of Buck giving sound advice on women. "I think Buck knows more about women than he lets on," Teaspoon spoke proud that Buck is his son. "You need to give Buck the chance to care about you as his father," Jimmy stated boldly. Teaspoon wants to avoid talking about his father/son relationship with Buck. "Let's talk about that later, right now we need to concentrate on finding Lou and Jane and figuring out what the hell Cody and Charlene are up to with Jesse," Teaspoon stated hoping to divert Jimmy's interest back to Cody and Charlene. I'll let you off the hook for now, but eventually you are going to have to deal with Buck," Jimmy stated as he leaves the Hunter house. Teaspoon listens intently as Jimmy shuts the front door behind him. He leaves out a heavy sigh of not knowing what to do about the situation with Buck. Chapter Eight Jesse has allowed Jane and Lou a little more freedom at the cave hideout that they are hiding out in than he had at the previous hideout of evergreen trees. They had to stop at the cave because the intense snow, sleet and rain had become too dangerous to continue traveling in. Jane is standing at the opening of the cave with several of Jesse's men outside the cave chatting quietly to themselves while watching any sudden move Jane might make to try and escape. Lou walks up behind Jane and gives the woman a light hug. "What are you thinking about?" Lou asked wondering if the cold, being pregnant and thinking about Buck is causing too much stress for Jane to handle. Jane looks at Lou for a moment and then she concentrates on staring out at the landscape past where Jesse's men are standing. "I was thinking about how desperately I want to be safe back at the ranch without having to worry about Buck being shot by Jesse again," Jane stated wearily. "I know that you are worried about Buck getting hurt again, but that isn't going to happen. Buck can easily outsmart Jesse," Lou stated knowingly. "Why did Buck almost lose his life the last time they went after Jesse?" Jane stated thinking that Buck plays by the rules whereas Jesse has no rules to follow in his life. "Buck was shot because he allowed Jack to take over the tracking and decision making. Buck isn't about to let that happen again," Lou replied hoping that Buck and Kid reach them soon. She isn't sure how much longer she will be able to convince Jane that everything is going to be fine. She fears that Jane being upset isn't good on the baby. Jane looks at Lou with a smile. "I know that you are right. I just can't help reliving the past in my mind. I can't stop the thought of Buck being shot again." "I know," Lou stated as she decides to change the subject. "Are you feeling better today?" "I feel fine. I haven't felt nauseated at all today and I'm eating everything Jesse gives us. I just hope supper is something other than bunny stew again," Jane replied with a slight smile. Lou points out to the hunters that have arrived at the hideout as they begin to set up the firepit to roast a deer. "Looks like you got your wish," Lou stated as both she and Jane watch the men start to roast the freshly shot deer. ***** Jack makes his way back to the campsite fifty feet below the evergreen hideout. Buck and Kid both stand up when they see Jack approaching their camp. "What did you see?" Buck asked in an anxious tone of voice to hurriedly figure out what they need to do to rid themselves of Jesse's men and move toward finding Jane and Lou. "There's six men in the hideout all of them watching this campsite and none of them watching the back. I believe one of the men is Simon Davenport, but the other five are just men from Jesse's gang. Jesse, Frank or the women are not in the hideout," Jack replied trying to make sure he gives Buck all the information that he has. "If we try to move past their hideout without confrontation they will come after us with their guns firing down on us," Buck stated looking at both Kid and Jack hoping that both men are ready for another shootout with Jesse's men. "If we are going to find Lou and Jane we will have to get rid of these six men first." "It would be in our best interest to be the one's firing on them rather than us trying to dodge their bullets," Jack stated with neither Kid nor Buck listening to him. "So what's the plan?" Kid asked looking directly at Buck. "Kid, you and Jack will head around the back of the hideout and I will distract them from the front," Buck stated not expecting a fight from Jack on his plan. "I think that's a lousy plan," Jack stated boldly as he catches Kid and Buck's attention with raised eyebrows from both men. "I really don't care what you think," Buck stated emphasizing that he is the boss and not Jack. "At least listen to my plan," Jack pleaded looking from Kid to Buck waiting just a second for a rejection from either man, but when he doesn't get one he tries to sell his plan to Buck. "Buck, you and Kid should go around back and I should be the one distracting Jesse's men from the front," Jack stated hoping that Buck doesn't give him a fight on this. "And why should I listen to you?" Buck questioned expecting Jack to give him a damn good reason otherwise the wisdom of Jack's age having no meaning at all to the fact that Jack has managed to stay alive for twenty years as a bounty hunter. "If I allow you to approach Jesse's men from the front and you should get shot again, Teaspoon will have my hide," Jack replied waiting patiently for Kid to help him out with his plan by agreeing with him. "Buck, I prefer Jack's idea," Kid stated boldly, but somewhat reluctantly thinking that Buck's patience where Jack is concerned has come to an end. Buck turns on Kid. "You like Jack's plan better than mine," Buck questioned knowing that Kid is simply trying to keep him safe. Kid doesn't say anything he simply nods his head in agreement. Buck glances back at Jack. "The last time I listened to you I was shot. Don't make me regret listening to you this time," Buck stated as he walked away from Jack and heads up the mountain toward the back of the hideout with Kid following right behind him. ***** Lou closed her eyes as another wave of nauseating feelings pass through her body. The cold ground isn't helping the feeling pass. She wonders if because of being exposed to bitter cold weather for the past week that she has come down with a cold or some other sort of virus. The nauseated feeling leaves her body for a moment. Lou glances over at Jane to find that she has fallen asleep. It has been extremely difficult for Jane to be held captive knowing that a baby is growing inside her. She knows that Jane wants to fight Jesse not only because of their immediate predicament, but also because Jesse had shot Buck. But Jane knows that she has to keep her unborn baby from harm. Another sudden bout of nausea passes through Lou. She clasps her arms tightly around her stomach hoping to ease the sick feeling. She thinks that she hasn't felt this sick since she was pregnant with Emma. Lou suddenly sits up from the ground with horror in her eyes. "Oh my God!" Lou exclaimed quietly. "I can't be pregnant!" Lou throws her bedroll off her body and gets up quietly from the ground. She walks toward the opening of the cave where she is met by one of Jesse's men that are guarding the cave. "Where do you think you're going?" One of Jesse's men said directing his rifle Lou's way, but not really pointing it directly at her. "I just needed a little fresh air. My stomach is upset probably from the deer stew we ate for supper," Lou stated hoping the man will allow her a few moments in the fresh air. He motions for Lou to walk out of the cave. "Don't go too far. I'll be watching you." Lou walked out of the cave tears already streaming down her face. She holds her stomach and suddenly realizes that she does have the start of a pregnant bump. Why hadn't she noticed the changes in her body until now? "I am pregnant," Lou stated quietly as she walks just a little further and then stops looking out into the landscape wondering how much longer she will have to wait for Kid to come for her. "How am I going to tell Kid that I'm pregnant and that he may not be the father of this baby?" Lou questioned herself agonizing over the fact that this baby could very well be Jimmy's! ***** Buck and Kid had made their way quietly and undetected by Jesse's men to the back of the hideout. The deep snow prevented any necessary detectable noises coming from dead twigs and branches that might be stepped on by the two men trying to sneak their way around to the back of the hideout. The two men traveled by foot silently using only sign language to communicate with one another that they had learned many years ago from Ike. Quietly the two men knelt down at the back of the hideout perfectly able to see within the massive thickening of evergreen trees that easily concealed Jesse's men that were watching the front of the hideout very conscientiously. Certainly Jesse had trained them correctly, but he forgot to give them the brains to think that anyone could sneak up from behind them! Buck points out to Kid that the snowstorm that has plagued them for days has started back up again. The snow flurries small and dense hopefully are having an effect on Jesse's men in the hideout to see that Jack is directly in front of them! The snowstorm could finally be more of a blessing than a hindrance. ***** Jack positions his body tightly against the enormous evergreens as he makes his way up the mountain toward Jesse's hideout. At some point he realizes that he will have to allow Jesse's men to see him so that Buck and Kid can raid the hideout getting the situation under control so that the three of them can move toward finding Lou, Jane and the rest of Jesse's gang. He hugs a tree tightly looking out behind the tree toward the hideout. The snow that is falling lands in his beard that has thickened in the last week since he had left Rock Creek. He thinks about his life over the past several months, how he even though he has disrupted Teaspoon's life with his news that Buck is Teaspoon's son, he has enjoyed getting to know Teaspoon all over again and being welcome as a part of their family. As Jack takes his mind back to a warm fireplace and a good supper at the Hunter household a shot is fired his way! He quickly rids his mind of the thoughts of the Hunter household and escapes the shots by running behind a larger tree! Even though the weather is bitter cold Jack unconsciously wipes nervous beads of sweat on his face away with the back of his hand. After a few minutes of no shots being fired Jack thinks that he might be safe to move a little closer to the hideout. He makes a mad dash for another tree, but decides to stir things up a bit by firing his gun toward the hideout! Jack hides behind yet another tree while gun after gun is fired at him, but he can also hear that Buck and Kid have started to fire their guns from the other side of the hideout! ***** Buck and Kid rush the inside of the hideout from the back! Back notices that two of the men have been shot leaving Simon and three other men still firing guns at them and at Jack from the front! Buck and Kid continue to fire their guns and soon the hideout is consumed with a dense smoke from the gunfire! Simon manages to make his way over to the horses on the far side of the hideout! With the thick smoke on his side Simon is able to get free from the gunfire and onto his horse riding out away from the hideout as fast as his horse can manage in the snow. Kid fires a shot that connects with another one of Jesse's men! Buck sees that Jack has made it inside the hideout from the front. Buck doesn't want to see Jack get shot. "Hold your fire," Buck shouted as he watches the smoke start to clear from the interior of the hideout. As the smoke clears Jack, Kid and Buck notice that three of the six men are dead. "Simon escaped and so did two of the other men," Buck stated as he picks up the guns from the dead men. "Do you think they're riding out to find Jesse or do you think they'll try and save their own necks and leave Jesse high and dry?" Kid asked hoping that Simon runs. "It wouldn't surprise me if Simon leaves Jesse high and dry, but the other two men are afraid of Jesse. They wouldn't do anything that might trigger Jesse's madness. If Jesse ever found those men he'd surely kill them! They will try and locate their boss," Buck stated as he heads out of the front of the hideout. "We need to track those two men," Jack stated boldly. "Those two men aren't that smart. They should lead us right to where Jesse is hiding out," Buck stated as he makes his way through the deep snow. Buck with Kid and Jack right behind him leave the hideout to retrieve their horses. The only thought on Buck's mind is to find Lou and Jane. The only thought on Jack's mind is hunt down and kill Jesse and at this point he really doesn't care who gets in his way. continue on... Email Debra HOME